Articulated coupling particularly for adjusting the jet inclination of irrigators in general

Abstract

The invention concerned relates to an articulated coupling particularly for adjusting the jet inclination of irrigators in general, comprising two curved or straight consecutive tubular members in constant direct communication with each other, which, at their facing contacting mouths, comprise profiled ends arranged to enable them to be mutually adjusted angularly about a diametrical axis of articulation; seal means disposed on the inside of said mouths and arranged to automatically adapt to said adjustment; an adjustment device for said two tubular members, the control member of which lies in the mutual swivel plane of these latter; and a guide and connecting clamp for the tubular members, the longitudinal axis of which coincides with the axis of articulation of the coupling.

I claim: 
     
       1. An articulated coupling for adjusting the jet inclination of irrigators comprising two tubular members in constant direct communication with each other for feeding liquid to an irrigator discharge nozzle, and tubular members comprising, a first tubular member having an end, and a second tubular member having an end, said end of said first tubular member being profiled and comprising a cusp-shaped end face having an apex axis at a diameter of said end, surfaces of said cusp-shaped end face on opposite sides of said apex being chamfered to converge toward said apex axis and being in opposed facing relation to an end face of said second tubular member, coupling means connecting said tubular members together for pivotal movement with respect to each other about a fixed axis corresponding essentially to said apex axis, from a first position in which surfaces of the end faces of the tubular members on one side of the apex axis engage each other, deformable seal means adjacent said end faces for sealing said ends throughout movement between said first and second positions, and adjustment means externally of and connected between said tubular members for selectively pivoting said tubular members about said fixed axis to any selected position between said first and second positions, while liquid is flowing through said tubular members, said adjustment means including means for maintaining said tubular members at the selected position of adjustment. 
     
     
       2. A coupling according to claim 1 wherein said end face of said second tubular member comprises a cusp-shaped end face which is a mirror image of the cusp-shaped end face of said first tubular member. 
     
     
       3. A coupling as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a counterbore in each of said ends of said first and second tubular members, and wherein said seal means comprises an elastic annular seal in said counterbores. 
     
     
       4. A coupling according to claim 3 wherein said elastic annular seal comprises a double lip resilient gasket. 
     
     
       5. A coupling according to claim 3 further comprising an axially opening groove in each of said ends of a diameter greater than said counterbores, and an anti-extrusion ring surrounding said seal and extending into said grooves. 
     
     
       6. A coupling according to claim 1 wherein the chamfered surfaces of the cusp-shaped end face on opposite sides of said apex axis comprise flat surfaces. 
     
     
       7. A coupling according to claim 1 further comprising pivot pins between and engaged by said ends of said tubular members, said pins having aligned axes lying along said fixed axis and being located respectively on opposite sides of said members. 
     
     
       8. A coupling according to claim 1 wherein said adjustment means comprises a threaded element in a plane perpendicular to said fixed axis and passing through center axes of the tubular members. 
     
     
       9. A coupling according to claim 1 wherein said coupling means comprises a first pair of bosses aligned with each other and fixed on opposite sides respectively of said first tubular member, a second pair of bosses aligned with each other and fixed on opposite sides respectively of said second tubular member, said bosses each having a surface of the same radius curving arcuately about said fixed axis, a circular bearing extending around the bosses at each side of the tubular members, and means for retaining said bearings on said bosses. 
     
     
       10. A coupling according to claim 1 wherein said tubular members are identical to each other.